Rossi embraces Edwards in Parc Ferme - the Doctor obviously likes the idea of a partner who can pull his weight and Edwards showed today that he is capable of pushing competitors down into lower point-scoring positions

After qualifying, Edwards and Rossi show the Yamaha 1-2 was an unexpected bonus

The Doctor and his fans immediately after the event - he's a dearly loved character

Gibernau's performance was the ride of the race - he came from a long way back and he was oh so close at the end. He is clearly the most talented rider in the world next to Rossi and he welcomed a change of luck.

Biaggi, Gibernau and Melandri in the early stage of the event

Hayden looked set for a much better finish than his final sixth place - if he doesn't start producing podium performances soon, pressure will mount on the American for the most coveted seat in motorcycle racing.

Carlos Checa had a luckless afternoon, he was the innocent victim of a first-lap melee, after he had run 0.6 seconds faster than the next man in this morning's warm-up.

Makoto Tamada tried but couldn't quite do it this weekend - Van der Goorbergh stepped in on the Konica Minolta Honda RC211V and finished 14th in only his second MotoGP race.

Melandri and Biaggi demonstrate extreme lean angles on their Honda RC211Vs as they fight over fourth spot

The most unpopular rider in the paddock became even less popular when he "tipped a bucket" on his crew. Where his nemesis Rossi makes his own luck, it appears that Max Biaggi is intent on making his own misfortune.

How popular is motorcycle racing in France - this was the opening of a new Kawasaki Le Mans dealership in the week before the event. Olivier Jacque and Shunya Nakano were on hand to sign autographs

Crowd favourite, Olivier Jacque, received a tremendous ovation as he crossed the line in an impressive 11th place in his home race.

Troy Bayliss still can't quite get the hang of the Honda but his results seem to keep coming with another top ten finish. Let's hope he comes to grips with it soon, because he would make an interesting addition to the battle with his never-say-die attitud

Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi ran strong in the early stages of today's French Grand Prix at Le Mans, eventually finishing round four of the 2005 MotoGP World Championship in seventh position.

Capirossi, Biaggi and Melandri

If he didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any! Suzuki's John Hopkins seems to be caught in a whirlwind of misfortune that dogs him every time he might begin to show his speed with a result.

Alex Barros continues to blow hot and cold - two races ago he was the fastest man on the circuit, while this time he struggled to run with the second bunch and crashed

Valentino Rossi catching his team-mate Edwards

"And then it goes ... " Colin Edwards explaining the fine detail of his Yamaha M1's behaviour to the crew

Early in the race Edwards leads Hayden, Capirossi and Rossi

The three fastest men on the day and the two fastest men in the world.

Advertisement

Other Images from this Gallery

Article Summary

May 15, 2005 World Champion Valentino Rossi extended his lead at the top of the MotoGP World Championship with a victory from pole position at the French Grand Prix this afternoon. The Italian World Champion recorded the fastest ever motorcycle lap of Le Mans in qualifying yesterday and followed it up with a new lap record on the very last lap of the today's 28-lap race in order to hold out fast-finishing rival Sete Gibernau. Rossi’s win makes it three wins and a second from four starts so far this season, and particularly heartening for Yamaha was the competitiveness of Rossi’s team-mate Colin Edwards who started from second place on the grid, led the race until the final laps when he was mown down by the Rossi/Gibernau juggernaut but easily finished ahead of the field to make up the podium.